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Le Mans: Audi hybrid tops entry list

Audi has entered four cars for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, inlcuding two new hybrid versions of its R18 coupe.

Audi heads the entry list for this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a four-car assault that will include two new hybrid versions of its R18 coupe.

The German manufacturer has opted to split its entries between its new diesel-electric hybrid, which has been testing since last autumn, and a conventional turbodiesel version of the R18

“The first test results [of the hybrid] are very encouraging and we are intrigued to see just how this technology performs on the racetrack at Le Mans,” Audi Sport boss Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich said.

“We still, however, see the potential with conventional drive, just as our colleagues do in the production department. This [is] why we are absolutely delighted that the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and FIA selection committee has accepted our entries and that we can join the grid with four cars.”

One driver has been nominated in each of the four Joest-run cars at this stage, as per Le Mans rules. Andre Lotterer, Allan McNish, Timo Bernhard and Oliver Jarvis--who races for Audi in the DTM series--are the names listed alongside each car.

The new R18 hybrid, which is understood to use a flywheel energy-storage system rather than batteries, will make its debut in the Spa-Francorchamps round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in May.

Audi will run two cars in the full WEC. It will run three cars for the season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring next month and at Spa.

Meanwhile, Toyota has two of its new TS030 hybrids on the entry list. Super GT driver Hiroaki Ishiura is listed for the second entry, making him the first confirmed driver in this car.

The U.S.-based Dyson Racing team, winners of last year's American Le Mans Series championship, is on course to race at the 24 Hours for the first time in its history. It has accepted both of its guaranteed entry slots and will field its pair of new LMP1 Lola-Mazda B12/60 coupes.

Marino Franchitti has been nominated to drive the Highcroft-run DeltaWing, which was awarded the 56th entry for a car using experimental technologies.

The Kodewa Lotus LMP2 team has only one entry for Le Mans. Its second Lola coupe is on the reserve list.

The U.S. Starworks Grand-Am team, which finished second in last weekend's Rolex 24 at Daytona, is expanding into the Le Mans prototype ranks for the first time in LMP2. It will run a new Honda Performance Development HPD ARX-03b at Le Mans and in the full World Endurance Championship. Venezuelan Enzo Potolicchio is the nominated driver at this stage, but Starworks regular Ryan Dalziel is known to be part of the program.

The Signatech Nissan team has expanded to two entries, as expected. Jordan Tresson, who is moving up to LMP2 this year, and team regular Franck Mailleux are its two nominated drivers at this stage.

The publication of the entry list finally confirms Aston Martin Racing's switch to the GTE division after the end of the AMR-One prototype program. Aston will field two Vantage GT2s at Le Mans and in the WEC.